This is such a time as we petition your throne and ask you for your grace, your mercy, your strength,

your healing touch on those who are on a bed of suffering.

Lord, we do pray for Sandy and ask Lord that you would just miraculously heal her and for

John as well.

Lord, I pray reluctantly for myself that you would also heal me of this asthma and cough and sickness.

And don't let it in any way be a hindrance or a distraction to the teaching of your word

today, Lord.

Bless the teaching of your word, we pray.

In Jesus' name.

Amen. All right. the teaching of her word we pray in Jesus name amen all right let's uh I'll have you

turning your Bibles to first Thessalonians chapter 2 our text will be verses 7

through 12 however I want to begin in verse 6.

And once you are there, I'll ask you to stand if you're able.

If not that's so right, but you can follow along as I read.

But for the sake of context, I want to begin in verse 6.

The Apostle Paul is writing, he's actually defending himself and he continues

in that defense in verse 6 saying, pardon me, we were not looking for praise from people,

not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we

could have asserted our authority. Instead, verse 7, we were like young children among

you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you because we loved you so much.

We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well. Surely, verse 9, you remember,

brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship. We were day and night in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preach the gospel of God to you.

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